A U.S. intelligence report on German assault artillery, from the Intelligence Bulletin, December 1944. [Editor's Note: The following article is wartime information on enemy weapons and tactics published for Allied soldiers. More accurate data on German weapons and tactics is available in postwar publications.]

GERMAN ASSAULT ARTILLERY During the present war the Germans have been placing increasing emphasis on the class of weapon known as assault artillery. Consisting of assault guns and howitzers, assault artillery pieces should not be confused with other types of self-propelled guns, for each of the four types of German self-propelled guns has definite characteristics, and each follows prescribed tactics peculiar to its type. In contrast to assault artillery, self-propelled artillery provides indirect fire in the normal field artillery fashion, and is protected by open-top armored shields proof against only small-arms fire and shell fragments. Tank destroyers, which are armored like self-propelled artillery, are used by companies in counterattacking tank breakthroughs, each platoon concentrating on a single tank. Self-propelled infantry howitzers are also armored like self-propelled artillery; they are the infantry howitzers of armored infantry. Recent tank destroyers like the Jagdpanther have assault gun characteristics. However, Jagdpanthers are unique in that they fire only on long range targets.     German assault guns, like tanks, are often fitted with 5-mm side armor plates designed to explode hollow-charge (bazooka) projectiles before they hit the main armor. These plates bolt on in sections on frames. On the march, they are stacked on the rear.     The most common type of assault gun is the 7.5-cm Sturmgeschütz 40 (above). It supersedes the original 75-mm assault gun 7.5-cm Sturmgeschütz, shown on the next page. The chief difference between the original and the present version is the high-velocity 75. The long 75 permits assault guns to combat tanks and also affords greater accuracy at longer ranges. Assault howitzers are designed after the same principles as assault guns. In fact, the 105-mm 10-cm Sturmhaubitze 42 looks just like the Stu.G. 40 above. Somewhat bigger is the 150-mm 15-cm Sturmpanzer 43 ("Grizzly Bear"). Assault howitzers are used in the same way as assault guns. The Nazis believe that their large shells have great effect on morale.     Assault guns are reserved for attacks and counterattacks. Their low silhouette permits them to move close behind the leading infantrymen, and yet retain a maximum of security against hostile observation and hits from hostile weapons. The first type of assault gun, which mounts a short 75-mm gun, is shown here.     (a) 88-mm "Elephant" (right). (b) Old 75-mm assault gun (left). (c) 88-mm Jagdpanther (right). (d) 75-mm 7.5-cm Sturmgeschütz 40 (left).     Figure 13. The present role of assault artillery is chiefly to provide strong artillery support in counterattacks. This map shows a typical German defensive position. The assault guns (17) are held in reserve in the wood near the battalion CP (10). The remaining installations are numbered as follows: minefields (1), machine-gun nests (2), tank obstacles (3), wire obstacles (4), company CP's (6), mortars (7), AT (8), AA (9), regimental CP (12), infantry howitzers (11), artillery (13), OP's (14), motor park (15), Nebelwerfers (16).     Whenever possible, assault guns are committed in mass at the point of main effort. They move forward so as to cross their line of departure simultaneously with the infantry. Assault guns on the march make good targets for aircraft seeking to attack with rockets.     In the attack, assault guns mote in batteries, in extended order, with distances between vehicles varying according to visibility. They rely entirely on the infantry for protection, and try to stay near the infantry for whom they are furnishing support. Single guns operate under the orders of the nearest infantry commander, but the Germans stress the fact that batteries must be kept intact.     The battery commander works his battery by radio, and maintains liaison with the infantry. Since assault guns are supposed to draw the fire of hostile infantry-support weapons, German infantry is warned against taking cover behind them. But they do, nevertheless.     Assault guns advance rapidly with the attacking infantry. They are sited in the foremost positions, and seek to engage hostile infantry-support weapons, artillery, machine-gun nests, pillboxes, and bunkers.     The assault gun's job is to supplement, not to replace, ordinary infantry-support weapons. Here, the Germans are carrying out their doctrine correctly. German infantry is keeping clear of the assault gun, while the assault gun backs up the effort of the Pak 38 in firing on targets which have been holding up the infantry advance.     Assault guns fire from concealed positions, whenever possible. They are not dug in, but may seek cover either beside or inside masonry walls, as illustrated above. An assault gun in the hotel in Cassino was most effective in supporting the "Green Devils" of the German 1st Parachute Division, who were defending the town.     In pursuit, most assault guns move with the advance guard of the advance detachment. Here they will be sited so as to deal with any weak resistance delaying the advance, and to combat tanks. However, assault guns are not regarded as reconnaissance vehicles. The Germans forbid their use as armored cars, or as accompanying support for patrols of whatever type. They are a shock weapon.     In the face of moderate resistance, infantry with light machine guns may ride on assault guns. These infantrymen dismount when fired on, and proceed to protect the gun from infantry attack. Assault guns unprotected by infantry are extremely vulnerable.     Assault guns form the backbone of units assigned to seize and defend commanding terrain features. Slit trenches are dug for the protection of personnel. The assault guns are never dug in, but remain ready to make the most of their characteristic mobility.     When withdrawal becomes necessary, assault guns are allotted to the commander of the rear guard. They normally travel with the rearmost troops, but since they have only one exterior-mounted light machine gun, they continue to rely on infantry protection.     In the withdrawal, the task of assault guns is to hold off enemy infantry until German infantry has disengaged. Sections leapfrog back, covering each other. Orders for withdrawal are given over the radio by the liaison officer with the rear-guard commander.     In attacks on fortified towns and villages, assault guns advance by batteries. Their mission is to destroy the foremost houses.     After the infantry has broken into the edge of the town or village, the guns of a battery split up, and, by previous arrangement, join the various infantry-engineer assault groups and fight with them.     In village and street fighting, assault guns are considered most useful in breaking up road blocks, barricades, and fortified houses. Here an assault gun advances, after knocking out a gun defending a barricade of paving stones. Assault guns are also used to provide direct fire against the embrasures, and other vulnerable points, of fortified positions. In missions of this type, they work with infantry-engineer teams seeking to break into the hostile position. Assault guns were first used for this purpose in France.     In case of a major German breakthrough, assault guns are often withdrawn once open country has been reached and the danger of counterattack has passed. They regroup in mass, while the job of pursuing the enemy and exploiting the breakthrough is taken over by tanks belonging to armored divisions. When tanks encounter difficult infantry-defended terrain or fortified positions, the assault guns are again brought forward into combat.

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